Ottawa – Canada celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). For over seven decades, the WHO has been dedicated to the well-being of all people and has championed global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance to live a healthy life. This anniversary is a time to reflect on our collective public health successes, as well as look to how we can build on them.
This year’s World Health Day theme, “Health for All”, highlights the need for immediate action to improve the health care system that Canadians depend on. On February 7th, the government announcement a plan to strengthen our public health care system. This included an investment of close to $200 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding for provinces and territories, to improve health care services for Canadians.
These investments will help strengthen our universal, publicly funded health care system to ensure timely access to family health services, support for health workers so it results in less time waiting for treatments, diagnosis, and surgeries, as well as a modern health system where Canadians can access their own electronic health information. They will also integrate patient centred, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant mental health and substance use services throughout all aspects of care, reduce substance use harms, and lower stigma.
Good health includes oral health, so we have also committed $13 billion over five years, and $4.4 billion ongoing, to implement the Canadian Dental Care Plan which aims to improve access to dental care for up to 9 million eligible, uninsured Canadians by end of 2025.
Additionally, we are investing to keep improving access to sexual and reproductive health services and resources that are safe and stigma-free. Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has the right to access the care and services that they need to lead a happy and healthy life. This is why in Budget 2023 we propose to provide $36 million over three years to renew the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund to help make access to abortion, as well as other sexual and reproductive health care information and services, more accessible for vulnerable populations.
Collectively, with our global partners we are moving forward from the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting our resilient health care systems to deliver better health outcomes for all. Countries from around the globe have been working together for over seven decades to promote health initiatives so everyone, everywhere can have a high standard of physical and mental health and that work is not stopping anytime soon.
World Health Day presents us with an opportunity to commit to addressing the health challenges of today and tomorrow, within Canada and around the world. Together, we can achieve better health for future generations. – Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.; Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.